allegretto
In Depth
Allegretto sits between andante and allegro — quick enough to feel lively but without the full energy of allegro. At roughly 112–120 BPM, it has a light, cheerful quality. The diminutive ending -etto in Italian suggests something smaller or gentler than allegro. Many famous movements use this tempo. The second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 is marked Allegretto and has become one of the most recognizable pieces in classical music. The tempo works well for dance-like passages and movements that need energy without urgency.
The second movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, marked Allegretto, was so popular at its premiere that the audience demanded an immediate encore.